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Download the Chord Chart

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Root Notes & Moveable Chords

"Moveable" chords are shapes that can be played anywhere on the neck using the same fingering. The name of the chord changes depending on where you play it based on the "Root" note.

Look at what string the root is on for the chord you are playing.

Play that chord shape with the root note on the fret with the letter name you want your chord to have.

For example if I am playing a Major 7 chord with the root note on the 5th string, and play that chord starting on the 7th fret, that would make it an E Major 7. If I move it up to the 8th fret it becomes an F Major 7 -- because the root note is "F".

This works with all moveable chords as well as scales, so knowing where your root is and understanding where notes on the fretboard can be found is a powerful concept in your guitar toolbox.

Download 80 Guitar Chords You MUST Know!

These beginner guitar chords are used in thousands of guitar songs, and, because they are moveable, you can use them in any key (see the root note chart if you are not familiar with the note names).

TrueFire's Director of Education, Jeff Scheetz demonstrates all of the beginner guitar chords in the video guitar lessons, and also explains how moveable beginner guitar chords work.

Get The Guitarist's Big Black BookDesigned by TrueFire for the Practicing Musician!

Anyone playing and/or teaching guitar needs staff paper, blank tab, guitar chord charts, guitar scale charts, and fretboard diagrams to chart their guitar lessons and musical ideas. You can find books with some combination of these blank charts and grids, but you can’t find one with all of them organized in a practical way. That’s why we chose to design our own.

The chart designs, layout, and organization of The Guitarist's Big Black Book has been optimized for the practicing guitarist. For reference purposes, we also included an 15-page appendix of chords and scales you must know to play a variety of musical styles.